By Sulayman Nafiu
Esa-Oke, a town in the present-day Osun State, first came to my attention on a fateful day in 2001 – the day Uncle Bola Ige was murdered. As a former Governor of old Oyo State and Attorney General of the Federation, Ige’s political and intellectual legacy continues to inspire generations. I vividly remember watching the news coverage of his corpse being taken from Ibadan to his beloved Esa-Oke, a moment that left an indelible mark on my memory.
That was also my first glimpse of Wole Soyinka, the Nobel laureate, whom I later had the privilege of meeting at the University of Ibadan during my graduate studies. Like the rest of Ijeshaland, Esa-Oke has produced many notable sons who have made significant contributions to Nigeria and beyond. Dr. Edward Omotoso, a retired top official of the United Nations Organization (UN) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), and Chief Dosu Fatokun are just few examples of the town’s distinguished sons.
Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke is a well-known figure in Osun politics, he has built a remarkable image as a dedicated public servant. As the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives, representing Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in Osun State, he has demonstrated unwavering commitment to his constituents. With a dual identity as an accomplished education entrepreneur and a distinguished community servant, Wole Oke embodies the spirit of public service. Like Winston Churchill, Charles Pelham Villiers, Edward Heath, and Sir Francis Knollys, who spent years in the House of Commons due to their exceptional representation, Wole Oke has earned his place among the pantheon of Nigeria’s most dedicated lawmakers. It’s no surprise that he is the longest-serving legislator in the history of Osun State.
READ ALSO: 2027: Oyo APC Endorses Tinubu, Keeps Mute On Gubernatorial Candidate
As I reflect on the political trajectory of Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, I am reminded that our paths haven’t crossed in a personal capacity, given our differing political affiliations. Until recently, he was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while I belong to the All Progressives Congress (APC). However, our connection began to take a little shape when my Centre, the El-Mavericky Centre for Educational Research and Development, in conjunction with the Faculty of Social Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, planned to honour him with a Personality Lecture at Oduduwa Hall of the University.
As a keen observer of Nigeria’s political landscape since the return of democracy, I was intrigued by his decision to resign from the PDP on April 16, 2025. The news first reached me via WhatsApp from Alhaji Adekunbi Tajudeen Alabi also known as “Orji”, a young and astute political grassroots from Iwo. Perhaps, he knew of my later-developed connection with Hon. Oke. My response was one of surprise – a simple “wow.” As I scrolled through other platforms, I discovered that the news was indeed real and had generated significant buzz.
Before his resignation, Oke’s admiration for President Tinubu was no secret. In fact, he’s appreciative of the new governance under President Tinubu’s leadership. He’s not alone in this sentiment, as evidenced by the recent actions of governors in the Southern Nigeria, including Osun State’s Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is rumoured to be defecting to APC to support President Tinubu’s reelection before the Osun gubernatorial election in 2026.
I’ve seen many abusive posts about Hon. Oke’s resignation from PDP paid boys, with some party members labeling him with various names, I was disturbed considering his financial contributions to the party during its 12-year stint out of power in Osun. I felt Hon. Oke didn’t deserve this. That’s when I realised Oke’s departure from PDP might be a blessing in disguise for the party he joins. Yesterday, on his birthday, I saw a picture of him with an APC constitution, and it suddenly dawned on me: could Wole Oke be the political “Arole” Bola Ige from Esa-Oke?
When Chief Obafemi Awolowo passed away in 1987, Lai Olurode, a retired Professor of Sociology from University of Lagos and former INEC Commissioner recounted that the pressing question was who would carry on Awo’s legacy. Alhaji Lateef Jakande, one of Chief Awo’s closest allies and the former Governor of Lagos, couldn’t answer the question at the time, but rather concluded that Awo’s “Arole” would emerge later. Given these events, some political historians agreed later that Uncle Bola Ige was the political “Arole” of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Incidentally, I had a 30-minute video call with Senator Sunday Fajinmi yesterday, during which he shared valuable insights on political history of the progressives in Nigeria, including the formation of AD and its meetings at Ijebu Igbo in Senator Abraham Adesanya’s house, as well as the impact of Uncle Bola Ige. How he won the Senatorial election in Osun West and how Chief Bola Ige wanted him to pick Governorship ticket in 1999 and what lies ahead in Osun 2026 gubernatorial election were main thrust of our discussions. I didn’t know I would write about this subject. I’ll leave this for future discussions.
Hon. Oke’s style of politics aligns with progressive ideology, which prioritises the welfare of the masses. As the Yoruba proverb goes, “Eko funfun ma n jade ninu ikoko dudu” – good things can come from unexpected places. I’ve seen countless examples of his impact on human development, including constituency development projects, women’s empowerment, and support for the less privileged. He believes politics is about human development, and his actions reflect this. For instance, he would visit homes in Oriade and Obokun local governments, identifying families who couldn’t afford to educate their children, and volunteer to support their education. This is basically what Chief Obafemi Awolowo preached when he brought free education in 1955.
His love for Esa-Oke is unwavering. One notable example that comes to mind is how he deliberated brilliantly at the House of Representatives two years ago to have the Federal College of Education that’s now in Iwo to be sited in Esa-Oke, the home of Bola Ige and father of progressives in Osun. If not for the great moves of the Oluwo of Iwo, the two legislatures of the time, and the underground efforts of Prof Razaq ’Deremi Abubakre and Alhaji Liad Tella, and other stakeholders the school would likely have been sited in Esa-Oke or elsewhere.
As you defect to APC, Hon. Busayo Oluwole Oke, I have strong confidence that the spirit of Bola Ige is happy with you. It’s now time to stop this boy at Bola Ige’s house from winning the reelection in 2026. Yes, we can send him to Juilliard School of Dance in New York. Before then, Happy birthday in arrear, Sir.
Sulayman Nafiu wrote from City of Kano
